TRENTON, N.J. — A proposed new cigarette tax could bring New Jersey on par with New York and Connecticut as the states with the highest cigarette taxes in the nation at $4.35 per pack, according to NJ Advance Media.
Part of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s new budget submitted Feb. 25, the increase would add $1.65 to the price of a pack and is expected to raise $218 million in new revenue, the news organization reported. The increase would be the first in 11 years.
While New Jersey would join New York and Connecticut as the three U.S. states with the highest cigarette taxes, other jurisdictions have higher taxes. The District of Columbia and at least two cities, Chicago and New York, all tax cigarettes at $4.50 a pack, according to the Tax Foundation. In contrast, nearby Pennsylvania’s tax is $2.60 a pack, while just further south, cigarette taxes in Virginia are a mere 30 cents a pack.
New Jersey Department of Health numbers show about 13% of adults in the state smoked cigarettes in 2018, which dropped from 17% in 2011, the report said.
The state legislature would have to approve the budget before the tax increase could become law.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.